September 2007
Tuesday September 4, 2007
My Day at the Gym
It wasn’t a whole day actually, but about three-and-a-half hours. I have not used the gym much lately, so this visit seemed like a day at a spa. I love long trips to the gym. Driving twenty minutes for one forty-five minute aerobics class seems like a waste when I can go for a jog or walk in my own neighborhood or jump on the trampoline in my backyard. I have also been blessed with ice time this summer, so I have not had the problem of compensating for lost exercise.
I planned to dive right back into my old routine, the one I practiced before my ankle injury. I was in exceptionally good shape last summer before that fateful fall. In fact, I was in good shape for anyone, not just a person my age. My goal is to get back in that kind of cardiovascular condition. I got to the gym, unloaded my bag in the locker room and hit the fitness center planning a one-mile warm-up run on the treadmill in preparation for a kickboxing class. Aside from being a little slower than usual, the run was fine. Then I went to the studio for kickboxing. I did not know this instructor. She asked if I had kickboxed before. I told her I used to kickbox regularly but have not for a while. I spared her the gory details.
Kickboxing is a high impact, high intensity aerobic workout. I became addicted to it when someone told me how difficult it is, and I realized I could do it very well without dropping off. I could keep up with the instructor and blow the rest of the class out of the water. The insane kickboxing instructor’s class became too easy for me, and I started to do the exercises holding weights or double-timing. Well, not today. The class was no harder than the one I used to frequent, but I have some work to do. A few participants gave up midstream. Personally, I would prefer to walk through the exercises and finish the class than admit defeat. I plan to attend this class every week until it becomes easy again. To build endurance, I need to run at least twice per week in addition to warm-up runs. I predict regaining my cardio fitness level will take a month or two if I stick with the program.
After kickboxing another participant and I attended a light toning class. Other than us, the rest of the women were older ladies. I began to feel awkward as I stretched. My spiral stretch approached a full split and I did a standing split to the side. I obviously did not belong in this group. However, it was incredibly relaxing. I relished a half-hour of athlete’s euphoria performing simple stretches and upper body work. In the future, I will warm-down from kickboxing in the fitness center on the machines.
Following this little diversion, I changed and completed a half-hour of lap swimming. Then I soaked in the jacuzzi, stretched in the sauna, and took a hot shower. What a day of absolute luxury!
Week of September 9, 2007
Off the Hook
Since I had my blades sharpened a couple of weeks ago, I have had trouble hooking my spins. My blades had become very dull since I had not skated for long periods of time due to various circumstances. Some period of adjustment after a blade sharpening is normal, particularly if the blades have been allowed to dull significantly. Since a blade loses its edge gradually, a skater can continually adjust to the change. Because I was also yo-yoing between injury, recovery, and other difficulties; I had to adjust to more than just a slow deterioration of an edge. Every time I got back to the rink after a hiatus, I faced the challenge of getting back in shape and learning to feel the ice again.
Finally (finally!) I can skate regularly and sharpening my blades become a necessity. I expected to recover my spin technique within a couple of sessions at the most. So far that has not happened, and I have skated several times since the blade job. Either the sharpening made a more dramatic change than I anticipated (the blades had gone further down the tubes than originally feared) or this last sharpening drastically flattened the rocker. The rocker is the curvature of the blade that creates the sweet spot used for spinning, turning, and other movements. In any case, it must be an equipment problem of some sort and not a shortcoming of mine (or so I hope). I have proven myself repeatedly as a competent spinner and was able to center beautiful spins before this sharpening.
The failure occurs immediately following the hook of the spin entrance and is more pronounced in forward than backward spins. Forward spins initiate from a forward outside three-turn; the apex of the turn being the “hook” where the toe pick contacts the ice and anchors the spin in place. Spinning actually begins when linear motion is converted to circular motion in the three-turn. Ideally, the spin should center directly atop the three-turn; therefore, no travel should separate the initiating three from the first loop tracing of the spin. In a scratch spin, the free leg comes around in conjunction with the three-turn. Many beginning skaters will do a forward outside three-turn, then try to bring the free leg into position rather than creating one unified movement. This produces linear motion also known as “travel”. Combining deep knee bend, precise free leg action, and proper upper body control fixes the spin to the three-turn hook.
Those are the technical specs for a hooked entrance. I am slipping right off the hook, my blade scratching a little skid in the ice before I begin rotating. The slip causes incomplete conversion of linear motion to angular motion, and I have to invest a few rotations in centering the spin rather than centering immediately. Not all of my efforts are disasters. Some of the spins are off-set from the initiating three-turn by six inches or less while others travel for several large loops before finally settling down. This level of inconsistency disturbs me. I pride myself on the quality of my spins. These spins are not excellent.
I am concerned. I examine each tracing, close my eyes and try to feel a proper spin entrance then try again. The same thing happens. I decide to take a break and practice something else. Then I come back to spinning and struggle with the same difficulty. The more I try and fail, the more anxious I become. My most severe trouble occurs in the forward camel. Usually slipping off the hook indicates that my blades need to be sharpened, but that cannot be the case. All of my other skills (moves in the field, dance steps, and jumps) seem to be working. For now, I will be patient and remain confident. If that fails, I will order new blades.
September 15 & 16, 2007
Group Exercise Certification
Last year, I contemplated taking a class to earn certification to teach aerobics and decided I could not justify the expense at that time. The idea did not completely vanish; although, I can no longer say I have never been injured. Justifying the expense still was not straightforward. However, I have decided to take a gamble with my career, at least for this fall, teaching ice skating as a group and private lesson pro. Coaching is almost by definition a part-time job with scanty hours, so I would like to supplement it with another related occupation. I have looked into tutoring which would draw upon my experience as an educator; but I am also interested in staying within the exercise and fitness field, believing teaching fitness classes would improve my understanding of movement. Group fitness classes can be divided into three basic categories with various sub sets to each category. The broad categories include strength training, cardio respiratory exercises (aerobics), and flexibility or stretching.
The workshop I attended over the weekend was very intense. I prepared for it in advance by completing a lengthy and in-depth study guide that covered topics in human anatomy, nutrition, exercise science, metabolism, etc. This was not a Mickey-mouse program of study. In fact, a couple people showed up at the end of the workshop to retake the written exam that they failed the first time around. The workshop included review of the study topics, introduction to music and choreography, practical floor work, and cueing. Confession: I have no ear for music. I admitted this when I started ice dance lessons. Whether I am musically challenged or simply untrained, I cannot be certain. I have no musical experience beyond a little ice dancing and program skating. I never played an instrument, can’t sing, never took dance classes as a child, and opted for drama instead of music appreciation as a college general education requirement. I fear bizarre patterns of notes on sheets of music. They look like a language in a science fiction movie. Okay, I am at the very least completely ignorant.
We listened to a pre-mixed CD of aerobics music and tried to count the beat. I was lost. Aerobics music has a four beats per measure count and is composed of musical phrases of eight, sixteen, thirty-two and sixty-four beats. These phrases dictate the step sequences that may be choreographed into a well-constructed aerobics routine. Beginning instructors can mooch routines from colleagues, exercise videos, or the Internet; but more experienced professionals will want to design their own routines to meet the needs of their clientele. A good instructor will learn to modify sequences by adding, subtracting, and tweaking. A slight change can make a whole pattern seem different, more or less challenging, work different muscle groups, etc. So not only must the instructor be able to hear the beat (first of all), s/he must be able to move to the beat, fit step sequences to pre-determined musical phrases, anticipate the next set of movements, monitor the class for people in unsafe positions, offer modifications for people who should tone it down and for people who can handle more, and cue the up-coming elements. My head was spinning (and not in a good way). I was still trying to count thirty-two beats.
I became terribly intimidated. Would I ever be able to walk and chew gum at the same time? I felt like a completely uncoordinated blob. Plus I was bigger than every skinny little fitness gal in the group which made me self-conscious. Aside from unavoidable body consciousness, I felt very awkward. I could not grasp the cuing. Thank goodness we did not have to cue to pass the certification test on Sunday. All we had to do was warm-up and do cardio exercise to the beat of the music. Maybe I should have just gone home. But I committed to this program, and my husband drove me over hill and dale to attend this workshop. We stayed in a nice hotel for the weekend so I could relax and be comfortable. I had to give it my best shot.
Maybe I failed the active part of the test. I won’t know for over a month. However, I am confident that I aced the written exam. Overall, I cannot feel unhappy about my performance component. I did my best, considering I just learned how to hear a beat the day before. In the worst case scenario, I have to take the practical part of the exam again. By then, I will have practiced and studied every aerobics class I attend. My husband took out his drum machine and showed me how to set the beat and tempo so I can practice to an obvious beat. That will help tremendously.
The workshop was very informative, and I learned a lot. My personal level of fitness, which is pretty high, has nothing to do with my potential as an instructor. Completely different skills must come into play. I have to demonstrate to an intermediate level, not my personal level unless I am teaching an expert class. I have to be able to work with the music and guide my participants. I am not standing up there to get my own workout. The instructor is there to teach the participants and maintain a safe, productive atmosphere where each person can get an appropriate workout to meet their needs and fitness level. Most interestingly, the warm-down stretches I will have to show my class will be so mild, that I cannot even feel them. I consider myself flexible to a point, but not especially limber compared to teenagers who can do Biellmann and Sasha spins.
Stay tuned, I will share the results of my group exercise instructor examination in about four to six weeks.
Sunday September 23, 2007
Coaching Again
All over the United States rinks are starting their group skating programs for the season. Traditionally, students go back to school after Labor Day (the first Monday in September). Families and potential beginning ice skaters occupy themselves with school concerns for the first two or three weeks of September before finding time for other activities. Rinks tend to begin their skating classes around the middle of the month. Unfortunately, many families are not sufficiently settled with back-to-school to make room for skating until a few weeks later. This means enrollment in the early part of the season can be quite low. Therefore, the demand for instructors is inherently limited.
Since late August, I have been interviewing at area rinks to either secure a job as a group instructor; or, in the best cases, get on the pro staff. I landed commitments from three rinks with a shaky promise from another, based on enrollment. I spoke with the manager of the “shaky” rink last week. He said enrollment is so low, they may have to lay pros off. In my opinion, that facility does not have an aggressive advertising plan and makes virtually no effort to bring people in. Their focus is school and club hockey. Period. They limited public skating to two early afternoons per week plus weekend and Friday night zoos.
The skating director at a training center liked me and decided to put me on staff and gave me a start date, which came and went last week. Their enrollment was low. As a new pro, I have to start by teaching classes then accumulate private students out of the classes, public sessions, coach-changers, and walk-ins or phone-ins. After a few months, my schedule should start to fill. I still am waiting to start at that rink.
Today, I started my first groups at a recreational rink that I will call “Ice Castle”*** in honor of the movie. I signed in at the front desk, met with the group lesson coordinator and skate director who clued me in on the procedures. I also learned that I was grossly out of uniform. I threw on the first clean skating clothes I found in the closet. They were not black, but they should have been. I stuck out in the pros’ locker room like a diamond in a goat’s ass. A couple of the other instructors shared embarrassing stories of their first day at the rink wearing the wrong color, so I felt less alone. Maybe someone told me when I was hired, but I honestly do not remember. Next week, I will blend in with everyone else.
My first class was a beginners’ group. Only half the kids showed, and no make-ups are allowed without a medical excuse. One of the children liked to fall for the fun of it. I kept encouraging him to stay on his feet as long as possible, but he just as often dragged his eager little sister down with him. One girl beamed gleefully with every little movement she did. She had no front teeth which made her look even happier for some reason. The fourth student was older than the others and had attended public sessions. She was ready to master skills while her peers were still trying to keep their backsides off the ice.
For the second half-hour, I was supposed to serve as practice monitor in the back of the rink where group lesson students could work on skills they just learned. However, a hockey instructor was missing, so I took a hockey skills class of three little boys in full gear. I have never worn hockey skates. It is a foregone conclusion that I have never actually played hockey. But I am a strong skater, so I taught the kids power skating skills, quick stop-and-starts, and edge drills. I wore them out. One parent was thrilled with my substitute teaching, which made me feel pretty good about myself.
During the public session, I had a fifteen-minute private with a boy who had never been on the ice before. I guess he was about twelve or thirteen. I held his hands and showed him how to glide and march. We practiced falling down and getting up. He smiled the whole time. His mother was very pleased.
Then I had a twenty-minute private with a new adult skater. Her daughter was enrolled in group classes and practicing on the public session. She longed to join her daughter, had seen me working with the boy, and approached me for a lesson. She glowed with excitement when I told her I was available and would be happy to teach her. She paid my fee at the desk and laced up a pair of rentals. I taught her the same skills as the boy except for the falling. The I taught her how to stroke and pulled her gently across the ice while she worked her blades and learned to propel herself without my help. I encouraged her to take relaxing breaths and “exhale through her shoulders”. This is what I tell adults who are tense and clench their shoulders. My client took yoga and related to this technique immediately, even suggesting I would make a good yoga instructor. I had never thought of that until now. In twenty minutes, she could stroke slowly by herself and pull a few swizzles. One adult woman to another, we discussed the hip and thigh benefits of stroking and twizzles.
I hung out for the rest of the public because the rink had arranged a private lesson for me on the club session. I met the club president and membership chairperson. I skated a few minutes on the club ice awaiting my student. My legs were really tired by now and my feet had gone numb in my boots. I moved gracefully and confidently over the surface pausing to insert a lovely spin that let everyone know I was there. Sadly, I was too pooped to make use of this freebee. My student did not show. The club president called her house and dad’s cell. No answer. I gave her twenty minutes then packed up and went home. I left my email address and telephone number with the president in case the family wanted to call me directly to reschedule.
One of the other pros suggested I make my cancellation policy clear when I first take on a student. I am considering preparing something clear and to the point that I can hand out at first contact. However, I never actually met this kid or her parent, since the meeting was arranged through the rink. Ultimately, I wasted about and hour-and-a-half waiting for this child. Coaches do not get paid for waiting, whether it is dead time between lessons, an ice cut, or for people to show up. As the season progresses, I can do very well financially with Sundays at “Ice Castle”*** because of the long line-up of teachable sessions. I just have to fill my dance card.
***Not the real name of the rink.
Mid-to Late-September 2007
Too Good to Be True
Last month I interviewed for a staff position at an ice rink that functions as a training center for higher level and elite skaters. I was promised the job and given a start date when I would report to teach group classes and begin accepting privates. When I stepped out of the building following my interview, I felt extremely excited. Marilyn, the director, and I got along wonderfully. I could not believe my good fortune. I do not consider myself and optimist or a pessimist, though I would probably border on pessimism because life is simply not a bowl of cherries. I have been kicked to the curb by circumstance and thrown under the bus by people so many times, I can no longer walk the streets with the cockeyed optimistic attitude of a new graduate. Life is hard work. Careers are hard work. Dealing with people requires enormous patience and compromise. Most adults can probably relate to this message. So, I could not avoid the nagging feeling that this was too good to be true.
At the time of this writing, I still have not worked a single hour at “Elite Arena”***. Marilyn, the skating director, left a message on my voice mail while I was attending the aerobics certification course saying enrollment was low and she did not need me yet; although she does want me on the staff. I responded to her message with an email confirming that I was eager to start the job and to call me as soon as possible. I still have not heard from her. A week later, I left her a phone message restating the same thing. I need to talk to Marilyn about a tentative start date or at least get on the roster to be assigned privates. Financially, I must start making this venture work. I have to earn some money. Thankfully, I have started teaching at Ice Castle.
Due to my commitment to Marilyn at Elite Arena, I have turned down hours at Ice Castle. Ice Castle offered me a weekday afternoon, but I had made a prior commitment to Elite. When I called back to say I would be available that day after all, the class had been assigned to another pro. Teaching ice skating is an enormous gamble to entry-level pros. If a rink does not achieve sufficient enrollment, the lowest man on the totem pole is laid off or not brought in, depending on the circumstances. This is understandable from a seniority point of view but really screws the new pro who was counting on that job. In my opinion, as an experienced career person, when an employer gives a new hire a start date, that commitment should be honored.
So far, my investment in this venture has by far exceeded my income, a situation that I hope will reverse itself soon. I have paid for membership to a profession association, insurance, and business cards. I am expected to join a skating organization so I can officially test my group lesson students. The skating club at Ice Castle wants me to join as a professional member in lieu of paying commission for privates. The student I was supposed to have on the club session did not show. Right now, paying commission may be favorable to another monetary outgo, at least until that kid’s family makes a commitment and I drum up another student.
Of course, I am looking for additional part-time work to compliment coaching, which is not easy either. Most exercise instructor positions require evening and weekend availability. The same is true for academic tutoring. The very same times when I should be teaching skating somewhere. However, right now, I need to earn a living and will take these hours until the skating season gets underway and I can gradually substitute coaching for other employment.
Before posting this entry, I received a call back from Marilyn of Elite Arena. She said enrollment is very low and new private students are few and far between. She primarily blames this on the unseasonably warm weather. No one thinks of ice skating until they feel a chill in the air and watch competitive skating on TV. Although Marilyn hopes it will not be the case, she admitted Elite may not need me for another month. Too good to be true? Apparently.
***Not the real name of the rink.
Sunday September 30, 2007
My Student
I secured my first private student at Ice Castle. She attends a club session and did not show up last week due to a miscommunication between the skating school and her father. Her dad was apologetic about the incident. I responded with upbeat professionalism. As a new pro, I am not comfortable laying down the law and realize mistakes can happen. I want this student and am eager to establish myself within the figure skating club. Being seen on the ice working with a skater will help me achieve my goals.
The girl is a low freestyle skater who came out of group lessons, participated in a summer skating program, and has been off the ice since the end of August. This seems to be the case with many recreational skaters or would-be skaters. September is dead time. They are focused on back-to-school and school related activities. Their parents seem to want to see them settled in school before committing to outside interests. So on the last day of September, Lexie***(also named in honor of the movie, Ice Castles) was ready to get back on the ice.
At about thirteen years old, I would place Lexie in eighth grade. She has a budding figure, long gangly legs, and a face that promises to be beautiful. She also lacks self-confidence, a characteristic typical of young teenage girls. I have just met Lexie, so I do not know the root of her insecurities, but she has a caring father with whom I established instant rapport. We seem to be on the same page in terms of Lexie’s emotional needs. Lexie is the type of child who apologizes for everything. No one can be wrong as often as Lexie thinks she is. As her coach, I hope to help her build self-confidence.
Part of her immediate problem was being off the ice for a month. As a skater in a continuous state of training myself, I can relate to her predicament and suggested she take a couple of warm up laps before we started. I did not have another student scheduled, so I could enjoy my time with Lexie and give her considerations I may not be able to offer under tighter circumstances. Then we worked edges and posture. She has lovely long limbs that can make her low freestyle moves look gorgeous.
I evaluated her waltz jump and corrected her posture in the set and landing. Lexie was leaning too far forward in her set position which caused her to step forward awkwardly and lose control of her take-off. She also had to save her landings by breaking at the waist and allowing her free leg to swing behind her body. We fixed all of that. Just playing around while we talked, Lexie did some toe turns without knowing what she was doing or why. I decided to harvest these into her choreography arsenal. She looked at me quizzically and I taught Lexie her new mantra: “I can.” She repeated the phrase and did the turns purposefully. Then I showed her how to do them as footwork leading into her new and improved waltz. The results were delightful. Lexie had gained sufficient control that she could complete the steps and land two waltz jumps in series. I counted to three on each landing to encourage her to maintain the position and avoid rushing.
While discussing her most recent success, Lexie twirled around in a movement that resembled an embryonic salchow. Our next challenge seemed obvious. The girl balked. Salchows are at a higher level that her current test. This really bothered her, but I assured her she can do more than she thinks and needs to extend her abilities. She tried the salchow on the wall, walking through a few times and courageously jumping. Her body wants to do a salchow. Once she took off with such vigor, it was time to move her away from the boards. Her first attempts were understandably guarded, but she did the jump within a few minutes. Then she did it from toe turns. Lexie owns a salchow. Then she worried that it was not big enough. This girl is a skater, that’s for certain.
She did not want the lesson to end, which I took as a compliment. My student was having fun and was stimulated. We stepped off the ice so I could report her progress to her dad. Lexie demonstrated her new skills for her father who remarked that she looked more graceful than before. Posture works wonders. Lexie is a very shy, uneasy young lady. She told her dad that she worried about what others would think of her, a skater at such a low level, doing an element as advanced as a salchow. Dad surveyed the rink and reported that no one cared what she was doing or even noticed because every skater out there was completely focused on him or herself.
I talked to Dad privately as Lexie removed her skates. I explained that most skaters work above their test level. When they test, the elements are completely doable under pressure because the skater is competent at that level and beyond. Lexie’s performance told me what she could do, I was just guiding her to fulfill her potential. I would not push her to do something obviously outside her range, but will work with her to develop her abilities and gently push her forward. Tests are important to skaters to document their progress and establish concrete goals, but they can also confine people to boxes which can cause a skater to forget her individuality. Every athlete grows at his or her own pace and has unique talents. While the coach must train the skater through the levels, the coach must also foster individual growth.
Lexie and her father committed to a weekly lesson and we will work together next Sunday.
***Not the student's real name.
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